Technology aids health information sharing

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The marvels of modern technology allowed representatives from the length and breadth of our nation to participate in an Aboriginal Health Forum on June 26. Co-hosted by the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) and the Commission for the Future of Health Care in Canada, the forum was broadcast over television on the public affairs channel CPAC as well as video streamed on computer.

The forum was entitled "Dialogue on Aboriginal Health: Sharing Our Challenges and Successes."

The commission, headed by Roy Romanow, is mandated to review Canada's health care system. "We were anxious to work with the commission so that Aboriginal peoples' voices could be heard," explained Richard Jock, executive director of NAHO. The Commission's final report is due in November 2002.

"This forum presented an excellent opportunity for Aboriginal people to share their voices and views about their health concerns," said Jock.

More than 200 participants included health professionals and traditional healers, as well as community and government representatives. Inuit, First Nations, Metis, and urban Aboriginal peoples were represented in panel presentations and group discussions.

Jock rated the forum a success. "We provided an outlet for everyone concerned to have a discussion about those shared health issues," he said. "This was an opportunity to educate the general public. For instance, one of the common issues about which we all need to be aware includes dealing with jurisdictional barriers," he stated. It's time to focus on the deterrents that come about because of all the different jurisdictions and the stand each takes, he added. The federal, provincial and municipal authorities have to engage in fruitful discussions and streamline their approaches to these issues.

Jock also noted the additional recognition of issues facing urban Aboriginal people that the forum illuminated. "Many times it's assumed that because of their urban location, they have access to all and any services they require. In fact, there is a need to have a very specific focus within our cities on Aboriginal health concerns, and in a culturally-relevant manner," he said.

Joe Hester, of the organization Anishnaabe Health Toronto, agreed. As one of the panellists for the urban issues, he feels that the concerns of Aboriginal peoples living in cities have not been recognized.

"One of the things that's becoming more evident is that the numbers of people moving to urban areas have equalled or even surpassed those living on reserve."

More traditional health care needs to be included, he noted. Models are already being developed which successfully combine traditional and western medicine, and his own organization is one of them. Hester feels support is needed for a more comprehensive approach than what is currently used, where primarily modern methods are employed at the expense of traditional methods. The success of the Anishnaabe organization has caused many groups and communities to contact them, especially in Ontario, but also in other provinces and territories, to get help and information to set up similar systems.

There's also a lack of information about urban issues as most of the studies have been done on reserves. "While these studies were very valuable and much-needed, they didn't address the health status of people living in the cities and their unique needs," Hester pointed out.

"There is no National Aboriginal Health Care Act, and we urge the establishment of such legislation, to provide a legal framework to look at health care of Aboriginal people across the country."

Metis people have a similar viewpoint.

Roberta Wraith represented the Metis Nation of Ontario. "The forum was interesting in that many similar conclusions were expressed by all four groups, but the approach needs to be different," she said. She felt the main concerns for the Metis people, and indeed Aboriginal people in general, is the fact that the governments aren't tking time to really think things through. Careful consideration of the information is not taken; issues are not analysed; strategies are not put into place, according to Wraith.

She expressed frustration in the fact that every few years policies and tactics that are nearing successful implementation are suddenly lost in an election campaign or a change of government. "Aboriginal people need to have the funding themselves to proceed with designing programs, regardless of the government on Parliament Hill," she said.

Wraith feels that the forum will be judged as a true success if it is followed by action. She suggested a good starting place would be to identify three common goals, set a timeline for achieving them, and then put steps in place to get there. "It's a matter of setting our priorities and then successfully achieving them."